The Midas Touch at Christmas Kickstart Challenge!

Welcome! It's my second post for today - if you're looking for the December 2023 Card Chain Reveal, go HERE.

As we start our new year of Christmas card making, I'm delighted to be Jo's Elf for the January Christmas Kickstart Challenge - The Midas Touch!! You may remember the story of King Midas who turned things to gold with a touch? Well, we're doing it to our Christmas cards this month - just be sure to include something golden on your entry. Here's my take:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane gold A2 card;

various BoBunny holiday 6x6 patterned papers

Dies - Penny Black Birds On A Wreath;

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; Joy die cut from bits box (retired Sizzix)

If you read my earlier post, you'd know that dear Ellie (Elliebelle's Corner) sent me a couple of the wreath die cuts she used on the gorgeous card she sent me in December. I colored a wreath while watching some holiday movies and used gold for the bells. Had thought about using it on a birthday card for a friend's Christmas Eve birthday. Then I remembered I need my elf card for Kickstart so I made it a Christmas card instead. Thanks again for the die cuts, Ellie - you really saved me in the busy holiday season!

That's it, friends! I hope to see your golden cards in the Kickstart gallery this month!!

Thanks for stopping and happy crafting!!

December 2023 Card Chain Reveal

Hello & welcome! Today we're sharing cards made for the December 2023 Card Chain Challenge. Despite December being a busy month, twenty-seven people participated - you can see the reveal chain HERE. My card went to the talented Julia (Create with Me) - first time for me to send to her - yay! 

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; BoBunny Winter Getaway;

Paper Studio bronze glitter cardstock; Neenah white

Stamps - Hampton Art Ellen Krans Penguin Holiday (c2008-retired)

Stamps with dies - Colorado Crafty Company Cozy Cat

(dies sold separately HERE)

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set;

My Favorite Things Fine Finish Edge (retired 

but found HERE at Frantic Stamper)

Other - Avery Elle Holiday ephemera (c2019-retired);

American Crafts jewel brads (c2011); embroidery floss DMC825;

paper ribbon & button by unk

The CCC offered a challenging 5x5 tic-tac-toe grid with a "B" words - yikes! I went with the bottom row BLUE-BRADs-BEAR-BUTTON-BRONZE.

Like other participants who shared their design process with me, I found one thing I wanted to include and went from there. I used one of my favorite BEAR stamps which has made several appearances in the Card Chain. Last December's chain he had a purple scarf; this year I gave him a BLUE one. 

Did you find the BUTTON?? I had the idea to give the knot in his scarf a button - isn't it cute? I thought I remembered a snowflake button in the jar & hoped it was small enough - perfect!! After stamping, coloring and fussy cutting Mr. Bear, I used embroidery floss to stitch the button to the scarf, knotting on top and trimming for a bit of fringe. Added him to an Avery Elle ephemera tag.

Next, the hunt for BRADs - an old fad but I knew I had some. Where?? Managed to find 3 packages, all unopened in an embellishment box and, thanks to my friend Heather (Stamping and Stitching) I had some with gem centers that looked BRONZE to me. To be on the safe side, though, I used some bronze glitter paper too, die cut with a zig zag edger. I remember there being some kind of tool to nip off the brad progs but I don't have one. I just arranged to fit them under the paper and tried to smash them as flat as possible! I used a sweet sentiment from a Colorado Craft Company set, stamped a holiday sentiment inside, assembled & done!

There you have it - all five items included - fun challenge! I was delighted to get a card this month from Ellie (Ellibelle's Corner) in IL - first time from her - yay! Don't you just love the delicate wreath & delicate blues? I do!! Thanks for the card, Ellie, and the wreath die cuts - I'll share what I make with them, promise!

Want to join in? You can sign up for the January chain HERE by 1/6/24 - just make and send one card, then receive one card - so simple!

Thanks for stopping & happy crafting!!

Last day for Flowers at Die Cut Divas!!

Happy New Year's Eve!! Today is the last day for our Die Cut Diva December Challenge to use Flowers. You only have until 9pm PST today and remember to include a die cut &/or embossing folder in your design!

I'm part of the last-of-the-month team posting inspiration at the Divas HERE with this first card. I used a new Altenew Press Plate!

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders Pebble Betterpress A2 Cotton; 

Paper Studio Navy A2 card

Press Plate - Altenew Hummingbird Nectar

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Inks - Spellbinders Betterpress Black and Cosmic Sky

from the Regal Tones pack 

Other - Sakura gelly roll pen

 

Altenew has donated a generous $50 gift certificate to our December winner

(awarded by random draw from eligible December entries).

From mid November to Cyber Monday I enjoyed ample time to place online orders from various companies having sales. I took advantage of one at Spellbinders to pick up a Betterpress but hadn't had a chance to use it until yesterday. Then I went to Arizona for the Christmas holiday and while there, placed an Altenew order for a press plate bundle. I found it waiting for me when I arrived home on the 28th & whipped up the card using the hummingbird plate and my new Betterpress. Here's a shot of the card with the set up.

This card couldn't have been simpler & look at the results! My first attempt at Betterpress and it turned out perfectly! Literally as easy as popping the plates down onto the Chase (a magnetic platform), inking them up, applying the paper which is taped to the Platen (cover to put over the Chase) & running it all through Spellbinders Platinum 6. I die cut the panel with a stitched rectangle, glued it to an A2 card and added some gold glitter pen to the bird's beak & the flower centers - done! Best thing - the set up remained firmly in place and could be reinked for more cards! Trust me, I made multiples!

Bonus!! I made another simple card using one of Altenew's darling mini stamp sets:

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane gold A2 card; Neenah white;

Lawn Fawn Petite Spiffier Speckles

Stamps with Dies - Altenew Mini Dogwood;

Poppystamps Say It Big

Other - Copic Markers

I'd barely opened my accumulated mail Thursday night when I decided that Friday needed a trip to my favorite local craft store Anchor Paper. Sure enough, they had post Christmas sales with 20% off all holiday & Spellbinders. Picked up some of both, then I popped a sweet Altenew mini set into my cart. These sets are such a great value! As promised, I used my new Altenew Stampwheel - picked it up during one of their November sales but hadn't tried it yet. Here's a photo of my mini Dogwood on the wheel stamping the 4th flower. 

This was the second batch of flowers I stamped. To stamp the ones on the card, I'd laid the stamp out more on a curve, hoping to create a wreath. Didn't space it quite right so I ended up die cutting the three clusters with the coordinating die. Not sure if I'll die cut this batch or try to add in smaller stamps for a background. Both cards feature newly used stuff but I'll just add card one to Darnell's December NBUS Challenge.

That's it, friends! Before you head off to your New Year's Eve party, I'd love to see your flower project in our December Diva gallery! I'll be dining early with some friends trying to beat the crowds - lol.

Thanks for stopping by & many thanks to Altenew for being a fabulous sponsor!!

 

Merry Christmas!

Merriest Christmas wishes to you and yours! 

I'm happy to celebrate Christmas with part of my family & hope you're having a wonderful day with yours! Today I'm just sharing a few holiday decorations, starting with my living room tree trio:

Next, a close-up of the middle tree showing the darling star ornament Gundi (paperielle) sent me. You can also see a jeweled tree & part of an Irish girl from my friend Heather (stamping and stitching).

Next, my triangle trees filled with Hallmark minis:

My guest room tree got a new topper/skirt by Hallmark to match my Peanuts mini ornaments!

I also finished my wreath and designer mini trees featuring mini ornaments & my 12 Days of Christmas porcelain ornaments on a gold wire tree. The mini tree in my bedroom got an angel topper but no ornaments - just ran out of time!

Hope you enjoy your holidays and I'll be back next week with more flowers for our December Die Cut Diva Challenge. Would love to see you there!

Flowers at the Divas!

Hey everyone - ready for Christmas?? I think I am...

I'm posting inspiration over at Die Cut Divas today - we're doing flowers for our December Challenge. I first made a card using the amazing Layered Ornate Frame set by our sponsor, Altenew.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane A2 card; Tim Holtz gold metallic;

Lawn Fawn Spiffier Speckles and Petite Watercolor Wishes;

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 110 lb; scraps of green

Dies - Altenew Layered Ornate Frame

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Stamps with Dies - Poppystamps Say It Big

Other - Park Lane rainbow gems; Hero Arts ink

 

Altenew has donated a generous $50 gift certificate for our December winner

(awarded by random draw from eligible December entries).

The frame set made it so quick and easy to create a card. I simple die cut the frame twice and layered for dimension and stability. Next I die cut the flowers and leaves and assembled. Stamped and die cut the sentiment - I wanted a jumbo one to fill the frame opening and Poppystamps came through for me. This one went to my cousin who landed in the hospital - no fun this close to the holidays but she's on the mend, thankfully!!

Next, I have a couple of bonus cards using the Build-a-Garden: Dear Dahlias bundle. Altenew generously sent me this bundle along with one of my orders - thanks so much!! Here's the first card I made with it:

I stamped and stenciled the image then die cut with the coordinating die. Added it to another Spiffier Speckles rectangle and glued to an A2 card. A printed sentiment strip from my bits box finished the card. My stenciling went a bit wonky in spots but I saved it by outlining the image with a grey Copic before die-cutting it. After layering it onto the peachy background, I really liked how this card turned out! Here's another, more successful stenciled Dear Dahlia along with a Hero Arts sentiment:

I'll add my first card to Darnell's December NBUS Challenge since the frame got first use here....

I recently bought one of the Altenew Stampwheels and hope to use it for my end-of-month Diva project... Until then, I'd love to see your flower project in our December Diva gallery! 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Poinsettia thanks

Hello & welcome! Busy holiday times but I'm squeaking in a quick post for the current We Love Stamping Challenge. They're doing winter flowers so I used a poinsettia spray stamp to create a holiday thank you card.

Supplies: Paper - Park Lane gold A2 card;

Paper Studio Holiday (red) & Gifts of Gold (foiled stripes); 

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White

Stamps with Dies - Spellbinders Wonderful Christmas (dies retired);

Hero Arts Friendly Messages Bundle

Dies - A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Other - Copic Markers; foam tape

Simply stamped, colored & die cut the spray which came in my October 2022 Spellbinders box. Finally using it for the first time so I'll add my card to Darnell's December NBUS Challenge too! I cut an extra outline for dimension & added the spray to a foiled striped rectangle matted in red. Adhered to A2 card. Stamped and die cut the sentiment and added a red shadow. Done!

Hope your holiday prep is going well! Thanks for stopping by!!

A Nordic Snowman in Snow Globe

Hey there - since I'm  guest designing for the December Day of the Month Card Club Challenge #58, I thought I'd share another snow globe card. I'll add it to the DotMCC gallery just for inspiration & hope this inspires you to join in!!.

Supplies: Paper - Spellbinders A2 card; Hero Arts Bermuda 

& Glitter Paper Basics; Neenah Classic Crest Solar White; 

Sunny Studio Holiday Cheer & All is Bright;

Lawn Fawn Petite Watercolor Wishes;

scrap of metallic from an old Target 6x6 pad

Dies - Poppystamps Sweet Nordic Snowman;

Hero Arts Snow Globe; Memory Box Pine Tree Grove;

Lawn Fawn Winter Big Scripty Words

A Jillian Vance Design Stitched Dot Rectangle Backdrop Set

Hot Foil Plate - Lawn Fawn Winter Big Scripty Words

Other - Copic Markers; snowflakes & presents from the bits box

When Poppystamps' Christmas release came out, I couldn't resist ordering some of the Nordic items. Hadn't used any of them yet, then I got a darling Christmas card from Lisa (My Paper Tales) using the Nordic Bear. She inspired me to break out one of the Nordic dies this week and I chose the snowman. Lisa put her bear in a snow globe so I thought I'd do the same for my snowman. Maybe she'll blog her card and link up at DotMCC!

I die cut the snowman and all the pieces in white, then colored with Copics. To match the BG Copics I used, I chose Bermuda cardstock to cut my pine grove. I cut the snowy tree pieces from white glitter paper. I die cut the snow globe from Neenah, the sky from Lawn Fawn, the snow from glitter & the base from metallic. The background papers were from Sunny Studio. I had a sentiment already foiled from back in February; I added a shadow die cut from Bermuda. Snowflakes (maybe Lawn Fawn) & presents (maybe MFT) from the bits box completed the scene.

Since my little snowman is newly used, I'm adding this card to Darnell's December NBUS Challenge. I'm also linking up to the December Poppy Challenge Cool Yule and to the Hero Arts December Stay Crafty with a Blog Named Hero where they're doing "Shiny". My snow globe base and snow definitely fit that theme!

Thanks for stopping and happy crafting!!